The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-03-10

Rome through it in y N
his fight with the Ca
madam madam knights; .i1, s., The The WA y1FZNF
dinal Gibbons, they CARDINAL GIBBONS.
say, will settle the whole matter. He is an
especial favorite with the Pope, and his ad-
vice as to the treatment Of any matter in
which the United States is concerned will,
it is declared, be taken as 1t is given.
In addition, Bishop Keane, Of Richmond,
and Bishop ireland, Of st. Paul, who are
both friendly to the knights, and who are
recognized ut Rome as representing the
more progressive element IN the American
hierarchy, are with Cardinal Gibbons to
support him in the position which he takes.
Cardinal Gibbons is in position to speak
more intelligently Of the principles OF the
knights than any other churchman. Before
leaving for Rome he carefully examined the
manual Of the order. He also held long
conference with Master Workman Pow
derly, whom he regards as devout and
and conservative Catholic. His present
position is the result Of his investigation.
It is said in clerical circles that the knights
had powerful enemies within the Vatican.
Many Of the Cardinals thought the order to
be OF u character similar to the secret So
cieties Of Italy and Span, and opposed it
for that reason.
The following is the Cardinals letter to
the Propaganda:
To His Eminence, Cardinal Simenoi. Prefect Of
the Holy Congregation Of the Propaganda:
YOUR EMINENCE-In submitting to the Holy
See the conclusions which, after several months
Of observation and deep reflection. seem to me
to sum up the question Of the association OF the
knights Of Labor, am strongly convinced OF
| the vast Importance Of this question: which
| forms but one ring in the great chain OF the So
| cial problem Of our day, and especially OF our
country In Judging this question have I'VE taken lake,,
| of the encyclicals in which our Holy Father,
Pope Leo Kill. has so admirably exposed the
dangers Of our time and their remedies, and has
| explained the principles by which we shall be
| guided in distinguishing the associations con-
demned by the Holy See. Such, also. were the
| guides Of the third Plenary Council Of Baltimore
| In it's teachings about the principle to be fol-
! lowed and the dangers to be avoided by the
faithful in the formation Of associations toward
strongly impcls. Considering the fatal conse.
quences that might result through an error in
| the treatment Of the organizations which often
| count their numbers by thousands and hundreds
| Of thousands, the council wisely ordered that
| when On association has spread into several
| dioceses, no single Bishop Of those dioceses may
| condemn 1t, but must refer the case to the per
| manent commission Of all the Archbishops o
the United States, who in their turn are moi
| authorized to issue condemnation, unless thetl
| decision Is unanimous, and In default OF such
| unanimity only the Holy See itself can impose
such condemnation, SO that error and con
fusion in ecclesiastical discipline can be avoided
the end Of the month OF October last TO- espe-
cially consider the association OF the knights
IN Ing | by any request on the M part Of the Bishops
| for none OF them did demand II, and 1t must bt
added that of oil the Bishops only two or thret
were known to desire the condemnation. Blu
the Importance Of the question in itself, and il
the estimation Of the Holy See, made us ex
anime it with greatest care. After our discus
communicated to the Holy Congregation Of tn
Propaganda, only two out OF twelve OF tn
Archbishops voted for the condemnation.tha
Archbishop Of Santa Fe who followed suit--fo
reasons which in no wav persuaded the other
either by the Justice or prudence OF such cor
demnatiOn. In the considerations which follow
wish to give in detail the reasons which dc
termined the vote of the great majority of tn
I commission; the truth and force OF which 10 ono no
time will try to do Justice to the argument
advanced by the opposition party.
constitution. the bylaws and official declaratio
OF the knights Of Labor, certain assertions @
, regulations which we might not approve "
, Holy See SO clearly designates as condemnt
, tory, and the formula OF their organization col
tans neither oath nor obligation which pr'
their enemies, from becoming acquainte
with their affairs Catholics are not forbidde
, to divulge everything to competent ecclesiast
This has been especially explained to us by the
officers, no promise Of blind obedience Is r
D quired. The objects OF the association and \
| rules are well and distinctly established on
: the obligations OF obedience do not trespai
their limits. Not only their object and the
rules are not hostile to religion or nth the churc %
Gil forbids that we should condemn any associ
t tiOn without giving its officers or represent
neir Mpser
!. ing me o copy Of their constitution, took occ
= sion to say that he processes his religion fait
!, that he belongs to no Masonic association or
. any other otherwise condemned by the churcl
\ that he knows Of nothing in the society
4 Of the church, and with fiial submissit
. ), he begs the pastors Of the church to exal
y inc eli the details Of their organization, ~
o to point them out and he will faithfully promi
= suredly this does not look like hostility towa
. the authority OF the church, but, on the contr
. ry. perfectly laudably spirit;
After their convention In Richmond last ye
II many Of their most jealous Officers and Cath
4. lie members made the same declarations
Is garding their sentiments. AS for the procee
q ings Of the convention themselves (Which :,
se
le OF the land. Not only their constitution y
TT regulations contain nothing Of the sort, but :
ie heads OF our civil authorities treat them ana
~ The President OF the United States told l
70 personally, month ago, that he had then l
d, tain social grievances and that he had just h
8, q conference with Mr.. Powderly, the Gene
Of Master Workman OF the knights OF Labor.
x. the subject. The Congress Of the Unit
"a States, following the advice of the President
~ now considering measures leading to ameliort
the condition of the working class the foun'
ne tion for many of whose complaints Is opel
no acknowledged. And the political parties,
e, from looking upon them rs enemies OF the co,
in try, vie with each other to obtain for them
h rights they are clearly entitled to, for 1t il
"a fact we'll known that the poor toilers have
~ ~ inclination to resist or break the laws OF
us land II but simply TO obtain equitable legis
OF tion by constitutional and legitimate mea
And those considerations, which show that
ia | organization does not contain anv OF the {
m ments which the Holy See condemns, bring
hc batting and the real nature OF the conflict. IL
IS, exist In our country. as In all others, soc
IN grievances which are grave and mcnacing. p
ry lie injustices which alike require arm % res
40. would gainsay, and the truth OF which has
30 ready been admitted by Congress and the Pr
dent of the United States
ao Without entering into the painiui details
en- those wrongs--the present occasion not req,
q ing tit will sufhce to mention the fact q
ror monopolies not only by individuals but corI
M atoms also, have already excited complai
'nt men end national Legislators as well. That
us efforts of those monopolists, not always uns
his cessful to control legislation for their own prt
cause great deal OF anxiety to the disinter
ice which, to increase their revenues, ruthle.
.r brushes not only the workingmen represent
W the various trades, but even the women
10. the young children in their employ-make
md not only hns the wofSngmen got right to
.si- ganize for their own protection, but that
cE the duty of the public ut large to did Them
m finding . remedy against the dangers '
mi menaced by avarice oppression and corrupt
op- No one could tyuthfully deny the existenc